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Gastro888

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    Shanghai Restaurant Recommendations

    in China: Dining

    Posted

    Try to have her get some dried foodstuffs (mushrooms, fish) and some Chinese hard liqour. I can't recall what the name of it is but it's hard to find in the States.

    Personally, I'd try to bring back some of the perserved meats and stuff. I've been EXTREMELY lucky with customs - I think it all depends where you fly into - LAX, NYC are very strict from what I hear.

    On a non-food tip she should try and get some custom made clothing done (if time permits) while she's there. There's supposed to be this famous fabirc market there in Shanghai and fantastic tailors.

    Great restaurants that don't break the bank

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    Hmmm. Interesting. I haven't had an opportunity to eat their lunch specials as I'm nowhere near there when I'm working. Their spaghetti is rice flour based (I believe - it's definitely not semolina) so it's more mein than pasta!

    Their breakfast specials are decent and I'd just go a la carte when dealing with their menu. I had the Baked Portguese chicken over rice the other weekend with my mother. Twas good - roasted chicken meat & onions with rice in a light Chinese style curry sauce with a bit of cheese on top finished in the broiler. Weird, odd and definitely not authenthically Chinese but it's true HK diner food!

    Great restaurants that don't break the bank

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    Gastro888, I tried Maria's a couple of months ago on your recommendation. I think I didn't order well--the only thing I remembered you mentioning was the toast with milk jam, which was awesome. I had an uninspired lo mein-type dish, "milk tea" (plain black tea with milk), and a vegetable soup. But I am open to the idea of Maria's.

    Hiya Malawry! Oh, cool, you went to Maria's! Hmm, what lo-mein dish did you order? Was it the beef brisket lo mein? Their lo-mein dishes aren't your typical lo-mein; it's like a dry noodle soup instead of a "chowed" (wok cooked) dish. Try the wonton lo-mein next time and ask for a side of Maggie sauce and chili oil to put on top. Their vegetable soup isn't all that - "lo soun tong" - it's just watery veggies to me. I don't quite understand what's going on in the bowl.

    When they first opened their milk tea was FANTASTIC! Then 6 months into it, they changed chefs. The current crop of chefs had a rather painful learning curve and are better now than before. They still haven't gotten the milk tea right. Every time I order it, I ask for extra milk (it's evaporated milk) on the side. Add that into the tea and there's the right balance of milk and tea. Otherwise it's awfully strong and a bit bitter.

    And the condensed milk-jam toast is, as always, a bit of comfort on a plate. If you get to stop by there next time you're shopping at the local markets (I 2nd all your recommendations and add Maxim and Kam Sam to your list as well) do try their fruit cake, curry chicken/shrimp, wonton soup w/ or w/o noodles and the cutlet pork chop dish.

    Great restaurants that don't break the bank

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    I sound like a broken record with this recommendation but I'm gonna stick to my guns (chopsticks):

    Maria's Bakery and Cafe in Rockville

    I know, I know, I know. I swear, I'm going to start a thread on Maria's as I only know that bilrus has heard of it!!!

    Oh, Crisp and Juicy (Silver Spring, Rockville, Falls Church) and El Pollo Rico in Wheaton. Nothing like a fresh raosted chicken to satisfy the tummy.

    The Coolness That is Wheaton

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    Dynasty was very good as was Tung Bor.  Remember Tung Bor?  It was located where the Glenmont metro now stands.  Then it moved into Wheaton Plaza and then closed when the owners opened Good Fortune.

    If I recall correctly, Tung Bor also did a brief stint over in Bethesda after Wheaton Plaza; it was never the same tho--maybe different owners?

    I didn't know Good Fortune was the same folks.

    Um, I can't properly recall if they were in Bethesda or not - that sounds right but I don't remember. I'll check w/ the folks to verify.

    Yep. owners are the same - chefs, I don't know.

    The Coolness That is Wheaton

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    Yeah, I hear you. I'd love to hit NYC's CT more often but it's a pain to get up there. But dang, it's soooo worth it when you get there. I swear, I need to expand my horizons beyond CT! But I digress.

    Dynasty was very good as was Tung Bor. Remember Tung Bor? It was located where the Glenmont metro now stands. Then it moved into Wheaton Plaza and then closed when the owners opened Good Fortune.

    What I really miss in Wheaton is Hot Shoppes. Yeah, I know...

    Anyone tried the pupusas from Juanita's on University near Georgia? How are they? Are they any good?

    The Coolness That is Wheaton

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    What about Good Fortune?  I remember it being very good but have not been in a long time.  And Dynasty is closed now, right?

    Good Fortune is a solidly decent restaurant. If you get it on a good night, it's great. Also depends on who's working the kitchen that night - with any Chinese restaurant, if the big chef's not working the food isn't going to be great. Heck that's ANY restaurant.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again - it's hard to find good authentic Cantonese food in the DC Metro area. You're better off piling in your car and driving to NYC for a true Cantonese fix.

    Dynasty's been closed for years. I remember when I was a kid and they used to have dim sum on the weekends and the place was packed! They did it the old-fashioned way where they'd call out the name of the items on the cart. "Hai gaow, sui mai, yee chee gaow!" Oh man, that was soooo much fun! Nowadays it's all about pushing the cart silently (with a side of dour). Pfffft. Americanization of dim sum. Bah! :hmmm:

    The Coolness That is Wheaton

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    I second Ruan Thai - it's very good. Pho Heip Hoa is so and so for pho. I think the broth is too sweet. Woomi Garden has good Korean. Go to Asian Market for some good prepared foods - they have a whole aisle of Thai goodies for you. Also check out their Thai dessert section.

    (Choose carefully - I got one that was mostly mung beans...I can take me some mung beans but not a whole nuggetful of them suckers)

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